Australian Penthouse

In an official media statement in 2008, Victoria’s Attorney General, Rob Hulls, stated the following:  “I believe that censorship laws should strike an appropriate balance between freedom of expression and community concerns about depictions that condone or incite violence, as well as the principle that minors should be protected from material likely to harm or disturb them…. It seems inconsistent that in Australia, adults are allowed to view ‘adult only’ films which have been classified R18+ by the Classification Board, but not computer games with an equivalent high level content.”

Earlier this year, the Australian Government announced a tentative date for the release of a public consultation discussion paper on the subject of the video games classification system.  But the date has lapsed and the paper remains forthcoming. According to a spokesperson for the Minister of Home Affairs, Brendan O’Connor (O’Connor is the Minister responsible for the public consultation process), there is still no firm date for the paper’s release .

Ron Curry, CEO of the Interactive Games and Entertainment Association, says the video game classification system debate is “certainly not a vote winner” for politicians.  But he adds that it is an issue that has been boiling for a long time, and one that needs to be dealt with.

“But I also understand the realities of politics,” says Curry.  “Other things come along and I can see how it would be difficult for one of the ministers to go on A Current Affair or a similar-style show and say, ‘We want R18 video games.’  I can see the difficulty.  But, you know, we also need a Government to be bold and courageous.”

Victorian Attorney General Rob Hulls has been vocal previously in his support of the public consultation paper.  When contacted by Australian Penthouse for further comment on the debate, Mr Hulls’ media adviser said he was not available.

“Given he was a champion of the R18 paper before the Federal Government took it over, is he prepared to stand up at the Standing Committee of Attorneys General (SCAG) and push the issue with the Federal Government?” asks Curry.  “Because the paper will need somebody from SCAG to push it now; it’ll need one of the Attorney Generals to say, ‘Why isn’t this on the agenda?’”

A 2008 report released by Bond University and the Interactive Games and Entertainment Association shows 90 per cent of Australian adults support an R18+ classification system.  But according to Angela Conway, director of Pro-Family Perspectives, if an adult’s pursuit of a civil liberty puts children at risk, then the decision of whether to change the video games classification system or not is a clear-cut one.

“I think we can talk about civil liberties and traditional civil liberties related to things like free speech and right to life and not to be summarily jailed or executed.  They’re the kind of civil liberties that occupy the mind of democrats and philosophers down the ages.  But now we’ve got people talking about the right to participate in the simulation of slicing somebody up.”

Crago says the threat the current classification system poses to Australian civil liberties might not rank alongside global warming and nuclear proliferation as far as issues go, but its significance shouldn’t be discounted.

“A case can be made that it is the thin edge of the wedge.  We should guard our freedoms zealously, and the right all Australian adults have to access adult themed material is worth defending.”

While Conway considers violence and sex in video games to be gratuitous, gamers such as Jarrod (surname withheld) disputes the notion. “Games don’t need violence or T&A, just like movies don’t need it.  But they are used to tell a story or to titillate, and are enjoyed by people for entertainment.

“Given that the average age of a gamer is now over 30, the archaic notion that games are for kids is dead and buried—except, it would seem, when you talk to the Australian government.  You can’t take violence out of a violent story.  It either is, or isn’t.  Imagine if Die Hard was to be released today and they said ‘It’s good. We like it, but can you take out all the guns, please, so we can get that PG rating?’”

Australia banned the much-anticipated Left 4 Dead 2 in September 2009 (only to pass it later with many significant changes).  Geordie Guy, board member of Electronic Frontiers Australia, says these decisions are having a serious impact on the health of the gaming industry in Australia.

“It’s particularly concerning when you see situations like this where a sequel gets banned because what winds up happening is we move towards a situation where it’s likely that computer game publishers just won’t bother with Australia any more.

“We already see the situation where it’s only the larger publishers that do, because if a game does get refused classification, they’re the only ones that have the time and resources to have a chat to the classification board, or to appeal or modify their game for the Australian market.”

Games developer, Tim Colwill, lobbies for the installment of an R18+ classification system and considers the current system absurd. “Basically, as long as we continue to allow adults in Australia to drink, smoke, buy pornography, and engage in sexual relations with any other adult they like, banning video games for being adult in content is a staggering case of selective moralising, and essentially a hypocritical farce.”

Aussie gamers held a rally to protest the ongoing classification issues on November 21. Find out more about the nationwide rallies

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